My old boss in Tulsa said to leave 1/8 inch gaps on that cedar deck and it still looks perfect after 6 winters

Sage Green · 2026-10-12T03:30:03.930621+00:00

Everyone online swears you need to butt those boards tight and let them shrink. He said the opposite. Told me the wood moves either way, so give it room up front and stop fighting it. I did it his way on 400 square feet of cedar behind a house near Turkey Mountain back in 2019. It sat through ice storms and 100 degree summers. Still flat, no cupping, no popped screws. The guy who hired me wanted a tight deck and grumbled the whole time. Now he sends me photos every spring like he is proving something. Your mileage may vary depending on your climate and how wet the lumber is when you lay it, but I am not going back. Has anyone else had a tight deck hold up better, or is that just wishful thinking from the guys selling board stretchers?

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My old boss in Tulsa said to leave 1/8 inch gaps on that cedar deck and it still looks perfect after 6 winters | Carpenters - Thought Shares